The odds of winning the lottery are among the longest in gambling, but that is not enough to stop millions of Australians from trying their luck every year.

About 70 per cent of us will buy at least one ticket every 12 months, and it is this fact that inspired Northern Territory-based photographer Rhett Hammerton to turn his lens towards regular punters.

"My vision is to develop portrait-based archives around activities that we may not deem as culturally important but [which] illustrate the commonalities inherent in contemporary Australia," Hammerton said.

"I believe the ritual of purchasing a weekly lottery ticket and the dreams that accompany it embodies this vision."

Funded by the Australian Council for the Arts, Hammerton's project, Lucky, aims to examine the hopes and dreams of lottery players and what motivates them to spend their hard-earned money on a ticket.